Joe Diffie Dies at 61 From Coronavirus Complications

31st March 2020 | Category: Concerts

American country music singer Joe Diffie has passed away at age 61 due to complications related to COVID-19.

“Grammy-winning country music legend Joe Diffie passed away today, Sunday, March 29, from complications of coronavirus (COVID-19),” the statement read. “His family respects their privacy at this time.”

Two days before his death, Diffie became the first country star to go public with a coronavirus diagnosis. Then, he released a statement saying he had tested positive for coronavirus and was receiving treatment.

“My family and I are asking for privacy at this time. We want to remind the public and all my fans to be vigilant, cautious and careful during this pandemic.” 

Singer of hits like “John Deere Green” and “If the Devil Danced (In Empty Pockets) was supposed to continue his national concert tour, along with Mark Chesnutt and David Lee Murphy.

Diffie is in the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame and was a member of the Grand Ole Opry for 25 years.

He won a Grammy Award in 1998 for “Same Old Train,” a collaboration with a dozen other artists, including Clint Black, Merle Haggard, Patty Loveless, and Randy Travis.

Among his albums, 1993’s Honky Tonk Attitude and 1994’s Third Rock from the Sun are certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. Meanwhile, 1992’s Regular Joe and 1995’s Life’s So Funny are both certified gold. His latest album, Homecoming: The Bluegrass Album, was released in late 2010. 

In 2013, Diffie, Aaron Tippin, and Sammy Kershaw released a collaborative album All in the Same Boat. In July 2019, he released the honky-tonk tune “As Long as There’s a Bar,” and in November issued his first-ever vinyl LP, Joe, Joe, Joe Diffie, featuring updated versions of 11 of his hits and a cover of the Stevie Ray Vaughan tune “Pride and Joy.”

A lot of Diffie’s country contemporaries tweeted after hearing of Diffie’s death and offered their condolences. 

One of them was Brad Paisley, who said: “I’m devastated by the loss of my friend @JoeDiffieOnline. I can’t find adequate words. But the records he made, that voice, the twinkle in his eye, and our memories cannot be taken away by this disease. 

Please celebrate his music today everyone, go listen again to his records.

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